FAA proposes fine against Prescott Valley flight school

WASHINGTON - Federal aviation officials on Tuesday proposed a $330,000 fine against a Prescott Valley flight school for graduating would-be pilots who hadn't completed the school's training program and who had failed final tests.

The fines relate to at least 18 students who graduated between April and August of 2008. The school certified that those graduates had completed all stages, tests and course requirements satisfactorily, the agency said. The students were issued graduation certificates and were recommended by the school for pilot licenses.

However, the students had failed to complete the training specified in the school's course of training, failed to pass the required final test and failed to complete all the curriculum requirements of the course, FAA said.

FAA said it has suspended the students' certificates.

Officials for the school were not immediately available for comment. The school says on its website that its graduates include airline and corporate pilots.

"Pilots must receive comprehensive training and taking short cuts isn't acceptable," FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement.